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It's easy for our homes to become chaotic and out-of-kilter due to the demands of daily life. As a result, they can begin to lack the healing atmosphere that so many of us need to decompress.
There are many ways to make your home feel, one, more functional, and two, more uplifting for your mind. Things like decluttering and redecorating might come to mind here, but what if you could create a space designed to help you get away from the fast-paced reality of daily life, where you can unwind and put up a "closed" sign on your availability to the outside world?
Today we're discussing creating a meditation space at home, from calming decor and ambience to eliminating distractions and maximising privacy. Before we jump into these 9 helpful tips, let's explore the benefits of meditation and why it can be difficult to do at home.
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What are the Benefits of Meditation?
It's no secret that meditation is great for mental health. Studies show regular meditation can help to reduce depression, anxiety and stress levels. I've always found meditating is one of the only chances my mind gets to stop racing. It's a precious practice I aim to do every day.
Now, if meditation is indeed so effective, is it as simple as practising it every day? Well, yes and no. For many of us, the act of sitting down to meditate is not as straightforward as it may seem.
Obstacles to Meditating at Home
As beneficial as it is, meditation isn't easy, at least not for everyone. You have to learn to meditate, which takes focus, dedication and consistency.
When it comes to meditating at home, there may be more distractions than you would imagine. In busy households, there's noise, and family, children, pets, and chores are fighting for your attention.
Even for those who live alone, there are distractions everywhere. Just imagine, you've sat down to meditate and the doorbell goes, your mobile phone rings, your to-do list on the fridge catches your eye, and you remember the dishes need washing and the laundry needs hanging up. If you work from home it can be difficult to escape the work mentality and switch off to meditate.
Any of these distractions can make the task of meditating simply disappear from your agenda and, before you know it, your newfound motivation to meditate consistently is no more.
So how can you prioritise meditation at home and reap all of the amazing benefits that the practice can provide?Â
Creating a Meditation Space at Home | 9 Tips
Having a dedicated space to meditate can help you tune into the headspace needed to sit down and focus for however long you want to meditate. Whether that's a meditation corner, room, or chair, adapting your environment to a focus-friendly sanctuary puts you in control of your meditation experience. This can help you can minimise distractions and enliven your senses to help you arrive in the present moment.
Creating a meditation space at home can be simple and enjoyable, especially if you have the space and resources. It can result in a peaceful refuge that you will look forward to escaping to every day. Let's explore these 9 tips on how to create the perfect spot to meditate.
1: Choosing the Best Place for Your Meditation Space
Technically, you can meditate anywhere, especially if you're a seasoned meditator. However, there are some considerations to keep in mind when choosing the ideal space for an uninterrupted session so you can fully focus and have the best chance at cultivating a regular meditation practice.
First, Assess What You Have to Work with
If you're lucky, you'll have a whole room that you can arrange exactly as you want it, but, for many, you might only have the option of a corner of a room or even just a few square feet. It doesn't matter how much space you have, as we will explore how to create a soothing space even if you only have the space for a small cushion to sit on.Â
Second, Consider When You're Likely to Meditate
If you meditate in the morning, it might be helpful to set up a space in your bedroom so you can practice first thing. Prepare the space the night before with everything you need so you don't have to think about it when you wake up.
The same goes if you meditate as soon as you get home from work - ensure your meditation space is set up before you leave the house so you can jump straight into your session.
If you meditate in the evening, consider where other household members tend to hang out at that time and try to find somewhere that is likely to have lower traffic so you'll have less chance of being interrupted.
If you're fortunate enough to have a variety of rooms and options to choose from, it's important to select the most suitable room for meditating. For those who live in multi-story homes, ground-floor rooms provide a stronger connection to the earth, offering better grounding, while top-floor rooms usually receive abundant natural light which can significantly enhance the atmosphere.
Wherever you choose to set up your meditation space, do what you can to select an area that exudes positive, calming energy. This could be next to a window, behind a curtain for privacy, surrounded by houseplants, or even outside on a balcony or in a garden.
2: Maximise Privacy and Minimise Distraction for Ultimate Focus
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Meditation requires focus, and it's easiest to focus with minimal distractions, especially if you're new to meditating.
While it might not be possible to eliminate all distractions, here are a few ways in which you can ensure your meditation session is as peaceful as possible.
Close the Door: This is the best way to block out noise and distractions. You might also want to close windows if you find the noise pollution outside too distracting, but keep them open to let in fresh air if it's quiet.
Create a "Do Not Disturb" Sign: If you have a busy household, consider putting a sign on the door of your meditation room to let others know you're occupied. Alternatively, let them know beforehand that you would prefer not to be disturbed.
Make it a Technology-Free Zone:Â Keep your phone, computer, and other screens out of your meditation space to help you focus on being present.
Put Up Curtains: If you don't have an entire room to yourself to meditate in, consider putting up a dividing curtain that you can draw when you're meditating. This will give you some more privacy and separation from the rest of your home.
3: Maintain a Clean and Tidy Meditation Space
No one feels relaxed sitting amongst dust and grime. To make your meditation space conducive to relaxation and a calm mind, make an effort to keep the space clean and tidy.
Too much visual noise from general clutter can also be distracting. Declutter your meditation space and include it in your regular cleaning routine so it doesn't become a dumping ground for excess stuff.
4: Choosing Calming Decor
Decorating your meditation space is the fun part. Consult your personal preferences to make your meditation room or corner unique to you.Â
While you should decorate your meditation space in a way that makes you feel calm and happy, there are a few things you might want to keep in mind and some options that might elevate the atmosphere of the space.
Natural Materials: Natural materials tend to look and feel more high-quality, which can enhance the atmosphere of interior spaces. Consider including natural and, if possible, eco-friendly, materials in your meditation space such as cotton, bamboo, linen, wood or stone.
Simple Decor: Minimalist spaces can be more conducive to relaxation than cluttered spaces, so be intentional when decorating your meditation space. Consider dedicating a small table or shelf for a collection of decor items and keep the rest of the area clear to maintain an organised and calming atmosphere.
Calming Colours: Choose colours that make you feel calm and peaceful. If you're looking for a space that exudes purity and serenity, you could consider pale, neutral colours such as white or beige, or you can go for colours said to be conducive to relaxation, such as blue or green.
Wall Art: Put up wall art that triggers a feeling of calmness or introspection, such as nature-themed artwork or handmade wall hangings.
Accessories: Some accessories you could include in your meditation room are crystals, spiritual figurines such as Buddha statues, dreamcatchers or handmade pottery.
Bring in Nature: It's no secret that being surrounded by nature is good for us both mentally and physically. Bring a biophilic aesthetic into your meditation space by including houseplants, flowers, terrariums, or accessories made from unprocessed materials.
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5: Get the Lighting Spot-On
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Lighting has a huge impact on the atmosphere of a space. When it comes to your meditation room, there are a few things to consider when optimising lighting.
Maximise Natural Light
Natural light is a champion at enhancing the look and feel of a space, and, if you meditate in the daytime, it makes sense to utilise natural light to elevate your experience.
Choose a Spot Close to a Window: Sunny spots next to windows are perfect for meditating. Not only is the light enhanced but you can look outside and watch the world go by which is great for some who like to meditate with their eyes open. Consider opening your windows to let in the sunlight and fresh air too.
Keep Windows Clean and Clear: Dirty windows can impact the way natural light enters the room, so make a habit of keeping the inside and outside of the windows near your meditation area clean. Additionally, avoid putting lots of clutter on windowsills or obstructing light with bulky objects or curtains.
Opt for Sheer Curtains: Consider sheer curtains which can provide privacy without obstructing natural light.
Ambient Lighting
Soft ambient lighting is perfect for evening meditation. This type of lighting is soft on your eyes and conducive to relaxation.
Warm Ambient Lighting: Warm ambient lighting is lighting that has a warm colour temperature and creates a lovely glow reminiscent of firelight. The best way to create warm ambient lighting is to use warm-coloured lightbulbs (warm white, yellow, orange, or red), layer small light sources around the space, and keep the brightness to a minimum. Experiment with a combination of candles, fairy lights, and small lamps to get the ambient lighting in line with your preferences.
Blue-Coloured Lighting: While warm ambient lighting is a popular choice for relaxing benefits, blue-coloured lighting has a remarkable ability to create a very soothing atmosphere. We're not talking about the potentially eye-straining blue light from screens, but soft, ambient lighting with a rich blue colour. The same relaxing benefits can be said for other coloured ambient lighting such as red, pink and green. You can create this type of lighting using tinted lightbulbs or coloured LED strips.
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Personalised Adjustments
It's important to adjust the lighting to what you find the most relaxing.
Think about where and when you are going to be meditating and what considerations you could make to enhance the relaxing vibes, e.g. if you meditate first thing in the morning and in a room that lacks natural light, could you bring in a small lamp to illuminate the space? If you meditate in a room with big windows in the middle of the day and you find the natural light overstimulating, could you add a blind or curtain to help soften the brightness?
6: Maximise Your Comfort
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Meditation is most effective when you're comfortable, so choose what feels best to you. Here are a few ideas on supercharging the comforting qualities of your meditation room.
Choosing Your Seating
Floor: Low seating arrangements are great for grounding, so that's a plus if you prefer to sit on the floor. If you need a backrest, consider sitting against a wall or a triangle cushion. Some people like to meditate lying down, in which case a yoga mat or towel might be helpful.
Meditation Cushion: These cushions are designed for meditation and come in various sizes, shapes and levels of firmness. Check out our list of meditation cushions to explore the various types.
Chair: Depending on what you find most comfortable, a chair might be a good option. Find an extra comfy chair that allows you to sit in a position that makes you feel relaxed, whether that's with your feet planted on the floor, raised on a footstool, or cross-legged.
Enhancing Comfort Further
To ensure you have the most rejuvenating meditation session possible, bring along extra comfort-focused accessories.
Stay Warm: As you'll be sitting still for some time, you might find you get chilly. Keep a blanket or shawl nearby to keep you warm. Additionally, consider keeping a spare pair of socks and a cosy jumper in your meditation space so they are within easy reach when you get cold.
Pillows: Bring in as many pillows or cushions as you need to make adjustments to your sitting position.
Eye Comfort: Some people find that using weighted eye cushions can help enhance relaxation. These are typically filled with materials like dried lavender, providing an added aromatherapy benefit. If you struggle to keep your eyes closed during meditation, you can also opt for an eye mask, or even meditate with your eyes open if that works better for you.
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7: Finding the Right Sound for Maximum Relaxation
Some people find that meditating in complete silence is the most effective method, while others find that incorporating sound enhances their experience.
Here are a few ways to customise the sound in your meditation space to suit your preferences.
Calming Sound
If you find ambient sound to be helpful for your meditation experience, explore the options below:
Headphones or Speakers: When you're listening to music or ambient sounds, consider using a good pair of headphones to block out outside noise, or bring in some speakers to fill the room with sound.
Music: Consider finding music you find relaxing and creating a playlist for your meditation sessions.
Ambient Noise:Â Explore places like YouTube or Spotify for tracks of white noise, chanting sounds, sound baths or nature sounds. We particularly like playing Solfeggio frequencies in the background.
Create the Sound Yourself:Â Using tools like Tibetan singing bowls, gongs, handpan drums, or even instruments, make the creation of sound part of your meditation practice and enjoy the vibrations they produce.
Soundscaping Elements: Consider items like miniature water fountains or windchimes to add to the ambience.
Enjoy Silence
If you prefer to meditate in complete silence and you need to eliminate noisy distractions, take a look at these ways of shutting out the noise.Â
Keep earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones on hand.
Explore some sound-proofing solutions.
Shut doors and windows if possible.
8: Create a Relaxing Environment with Scent
Scent is another way to enhance the ambience in your meditation room or corner. Research suggests that our sense of smell can directly influence our mental and physical well-being, and certain scents are known to induce relaxation.
Scent Diffusion Methods
First, find the right method of filling your meditation room with delightful scents.
Scented Candles: A popular choice, scented candles not only provide ambient lighting but also add a delightful scent that enhances the atmosphere.
Essential Oil Diffuser: We think diffusers are the best way to spread a scent. These electric devices use water and essential oils to create a delicate and humidifying effect by diffusing the scent through water vapour.
Reed Diffusers:Â These are long-lasting and easy to use since they don't require lighting or electricity. They consist of reeds in a fragranced mixture that continuously diffuses the scent throughout the day.
Incense: A traditional method of creating a pleasant scent is burning incense. While it may effectively diffuse fragrance, this method involves lighting the incense stick, which produces smoke. This can be problematic, especially in enclosed spaces and for individuals with breathing difficulties, so you might prefer a smoke-free option.
Relaxing Scents
Second, explore some fragrances that are especially beneficial for relaxation or energising:
Lavender
Ylang ylang
Sandalwood
Frankincense
Clary sage
Peppermint
Bergamot
When choosing scents, try to go for the most natural and chemical-free options such as pure essential oils. Â
9: Elevate Positive Energy
How you enhance the positive energy in your meditation space depends on what makes you feel happy. For some, just having a simplistic, quiet space to meditate is all that's needed for a relaxing experience. For others, some extra attention to detail might elevate your meditation even further.
Make it Communal: Meditating with others can be very powerful. Bring in extra cushions for friends and family to sit on and arrange a group meditation session.
Make Space for Pets: Studies have shown that spending time with pets can reduce stress, feelings of loneliness and anxiety. If you have a pet that's not too restless or disruptive, why not bring their bed into your meditation space? My cat always comes and sits on my lap when I start meditating and it makes for an extra soothing experience.
Include a Beverage Station:Â Consider having a tea and water station within your meditation space, complete with a kettle, your favourite mug, and herbal teas. Staying hydrated before and after meditating is important, so having a jug of cold water available can also be helpful.
Sentimental Decor:Â If you have photographs of loved ones, sentimental mementoes, printed quotes from your favourite meditation teacher, or even your children's drawings, consider finding a place for them in your meditation space to enhance the positivity of the space.
Enhancing Positivity with Feng Shui Principles
If we look at the concept of Feng Shui, it's believed that energy, referred to as "chi", should be able to flow freely through a room. This is done by arranging furniture and decor in a way that avoids blockages, maintains balance and promotes harmony within the environment. It might be helpful to apply similar principles to your meditation space.
Clear Pathways: Allow free pathways through the space to allow energy to flow and avoid having to move around obstacles.
Mirrors: Consider placing a mirror in your meditation space to reflect light and make the area appear more spacious.
Clean Windows:Â Keep windows clean to allow natural light in.
Balance and Symmetry: Arrange decor and furniture in a way that feels balanced and symmetrical.
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Now you are all set with some ideas on what to consider when creating your meditation space! Work with the space you have, no matter how small, curate the space to feel like your safe sanctuary and remember, even if your meditation space is just a cushion in a cosy spot at home, it can still feel calming and reflect a piece of you.
Tell us about how you created your meditation corner in the comments!
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